The world of hair colour can be a bit of a minefield. Use too much bleach, your ends could snap. Go too dark, you may never be able to get your natural colour back. If you're itching to try something new, but the risks are making you sweat, a hair toner will allow you to transform your colour without the possible scary consequences.
Hair toners are the perfect first step if you want to experiment with hair colour without committing to a salon appointment every couple of weeks to touch up those pesky roots.
In fact, a toner is even great if you're happy with your colour and simply want to add a bright, glassy shine. There's one out there for each and every one of us. Here, we're divulging all the details.
What is hair toner?
Think of hair toner as a colour corrector for your hair. If you're blonde and find your hair goes too yellow, it can cool down those brassy tones. If you're a brunette that wants to add some caramel warmth, a toner can do that too.
According to Zoë Irwin, Creative Director at John Frieda Salons, a hair toner will 'deposit either a warm, ash or cool hue, or it will neutralise specific tones in the hair.'
Rather than completely changing your hair colour, toner is more about the, well, tone. This can be anything from adding a subtle colourful shade to hair – like peach or red – or making your balayage-d ends appear more vivid.
Colour expert Josh Wood explains: 'In reality a toner takes two forms: one is a non-permanent colour that sits on the outside layer of the hair and adds a small amount of “tone” to the hair. The second is a slightly more intense option that uses a small amount of activator to penetrate the hair for a longer-lasting effect'.
‘A toner is used to add or neutralise pigment in the hair,’ agrees Shannon Gallacher, Senior Colourist at Nicola Clarke x John Frieda Salons. ‘For bleached hair, you are removing the pigment and the toner is the final part post-highlights that helps create your desired shade.’
How many different kinds of hair toner are there?
In short, there's a toner on the shelves to suit everyone's specific demands: from purple shampoos to colour-depositing conditioners, leave-in mists and intensive masks, the options are endless.
'Toners have been around for years in many guises: in fact, my gran used to add a blue tinge to her hair once a week with her shampoo and set, and that was a kind of toner. Today, toners come in many different forms: glosses, glazes, colour masks... The list goes on,' says Wood.
How does toner benefit your hair?
Toners can bring any hair colour back into balance, be it a brown that has become too warm, or a blonde that has turned a little brassy. 'If your hair has faded or oxidised to orange, you can use a toner to “neutralise” those unwanted tones,' explains Wood.
'If there is a tinge of yellow or brassiness, use a violet or blue toner to bring your hair back to a bright, icy blonde. On lighter tones you can create coppers and reds – or for the really daring there are the bright pinks, greens and violets. All of these toners will fade away rather than grow out.'
Everyone can use a toner, no matter your hair colour or type. 'I use toners on everything from afro textured hair to pale blondes and deep brunettes. Honestly, I feel it suits every hair type: there is one for every hair colour and skin tone', says Irwin.
How do you use hair toner?
Unlike permanent hair dyes, it's not too risky to experiment with toner in your bathroom at home – although do perform a proper patch test before slathering it on. The process will differ for each product – always read the instructions! – but generally, a toner is applied in a similar way to a hair mask, only you'll need to use gloves to protect your skin and go cautiously around your hairline.
Wood recommends a less-is-more approach when using toner for the first time. 'Just understand that the lighter your hair is, the more colour will be absorbed, so go gently and only leave the colour on for a few minutes. You can always add more – but if your hair soaks up the colour too quickly, you could end up with a much brighter result than anticipated.'
How long does hair toner last for?
This varies on how often you wash your hair. If you're a gym bunny that shampoos once a day, your colour will fade quicker. The more you wash it, the quicker the colour will disappear.
On average, a good toner should stay put for between 4-5 weeks, with lighter hair fading faster than darker shades.
To extend the life of your toner, Irwin recommends investing in some colour-protecting products. 'The shampoo and conditioner you choose to use will have an effect on the longevity of any colour.' Avoid anything with a heavy dose of sulphates, as these will strip your shade swiftly, and invest in a good mask that'll keep things soft and shiny.
Hair toner for blonde hair
ELLE Edit: Hair Toner For Blondes
amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Hair Mask
Schwarzkopf Professional BlondMe Bond Enforcing Pastel Toner - Brown Mahogany
Shrine Drop It Champagne Blonde Toner
Bleach London Pearlescent Conditioner
Wella Professionals Colour Fresh Semi-Permanent
If your hair is bleached or naturally blonde, you have plenty of hair toner options. Try warming your hues up with a honey tint, or use Bleach London's brilliant Pearlescent Conditioner to give icy tones that coveted pearly sheen. Conditioning masks like Kérastase's classic Blond Absolu Masque will strengthen bleached strands while balancing out those brassy tones.
If you're looking for a major transformation, the likes of Revolution and Moroccanoil have you covered with a host of rainbow hues, from pastel pinks and peaches to more vivid oranges and reds.
Hair toner for brown hair
ELLE Edit: Hair Toners For Brunette Hair
dpHUE Gloss
Aveda Color Renewal Color And Shine Treatment - Cool Brown
If your hair is naturally brown or darker, pastel shades simply won't show up on your lengths. However, there's a host of excellent ash toners out there that'll cool your shade down in an instant, as well as warmer copper tones for a fiery result. We love Davines' Alchemic Conditioner, which offers intensive hydration alongside a deep cherry tint, and Josh Wood's raspberry-tinged Gloss treatment.
Hair toner for greying hair
For anyone experiencing the odd grey hair or those simply embracing their natural silver tones, a hair toner could also prove a salve. ‘Some greying hair can hold a yellow undertone so a violet based toner will neutralise that and make it a nice clean silvery grey,’ says Gallacher. You can also opt for a simple hair gloss to add shine and nourish your ends, boosting the natural tones of your hair.
Davines Alchemic Conditioner - Silver
Ouai Hair Gloss
Kerastase Chroma Absolu Soin Acide Chroma Gloss
Hair toner for copper hair
Copper hair is notorious for losing its vibrant shine and colour. If you want to save time and money from your monthly salon visits, a copper hair toner is a sure-fire way to ensure your colour stays looking fresh and extra shiny. There are masks, toners and glosses to choose from
Pureology Color Fanatic Top Coat and Tone Glaze Copper
Bleach London Copper Toner Kit
Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask, Copper
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Amelia Bell is the Senior Site Beauty Editor at ELLE UK, developing beauty strategy, writing, editing, and commissioning, and overseeing all beauty content for the site. Amelia has a particular interest in sustainable beauty practices, exploring the skin-mind connection, and decoding the latest treatments, tweakments and runway trends. She also has bylines for Women's Health, Refinery29, British Vogue, Harrods Magazine, and more.
